Every major update from the first two episodes of Taylor Swift's Disney+ Eras Tour docuseries
NEW YORK (AP) — The first two episodes of Taylor Swift's six-episode docuseries “The End of an Era” will premiere on Disney+ Friday. Swift appeared at an exclusive screening of the episodes in New York on Tuesday. Swift touches on the failed terror plot that resulted in the cancellation of her Vienna shows. She discusses the attacker in England who killed three girls and wounded 10 people at a Swift-themed dance and yoga class. But the series is not all doom and gloom. It also celebrates Swift's crew, dancers, choreographers and band members. There are a few special guests as well, like Ed Sheeran and Florence Welch.
It feels good to be Jelly Roll. And now, he's ready to win a Grammy
New York (AP) — Country star Jelly Roll is ready to win a Grammy. The “Beautifully Broken” singer has three nominations this year. He has been nominated three consecutive years. This time around, he's up for his first album award and his first award in a contemporary Christian music category. He says it is because God has had his back this year. Jelly Roll's music often deals with themes of overcoming adversity and hardship. His troubled youth is long behind him, but Jelly Roll still feels connected to those struggles. He describes himself as a “broken dude from a broken place” who managed to get out of it. He hopes to show others they can, too.
The greatest mystery of Rian Johnson's 'Knives Out' movies? Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc
NEW YORK (AP) — The greatest mystery in Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” movies might be Benoit Blanc. Over the course of three films, Johnson and Daniel Craig have stingily dropped clues to Blanc’s past and personal life. Since Blanc first introduced himself in “Knives Out” as “a respectful, quiet, passive observer … of the truth,” following the breadcrumbs has been a sport of its own. Every “Knives Out” movie is a wholesale change. New setting. New case. New cast of characters. But Craig and Johnson are the mainstays. Together, they’ve turned Blanc, the gentleman sleuth, into one of the greatest protagonists in recent movies.
Bestselling British writer Joanna Trollope dies at 82
LONDON (AP) — British writer Joanna Trollope, known for her bestselling novels about romantic escapades in rural England, has died at 82. Her family announced Friday that Trollope passed away peacefully at her Oxfordshire home on Thursday. Trollope's novels included "The Rector’s Wife" and "Marrying the Mistress." They were often dubbed “Aga sagas,” a label Trollope said was patronizing to the books and their readers. She also wrote historical novels under the pseudonym Caroline Harvey. In 2019, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Literary agent James Gill praised Trollope as a cherished and widely enjoyed novelist.
How Joyce DiDonato's childhood inspired her role in 'Amahl and the Night Visitors'
NEW YORK (AP) — Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is coming to New York’s Lincoln Center Theater. This beloved holiday opera, first broadcast on NBC in 1951, tells the story of a disabled child who selflessly offers his crutch to the Wise Men to give to the baby Jesus. The production stars mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who has a personal connection to the opera from her childhood. The show opens Dec. 16 and runs through the holidays. Lincoln Center’s new artistic director, Lear deBessonet, aims to present more family-friendly programming, inspired by the success of “Amahl” and other holiday classics.
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Here are 10 TV shows from 2025 to catch up on before it's 2026
If you're staying in this holiday season, it's a great time to catch up on some of 2025's standout TV shows. “Dept. Q” features Matthew Goode as a detective solving cold cases. “Paradise” stars Sterling K. Brown in a sci-fi drama on Hulu. “Love Island USA” continues to entertain with its seventh season on Peacock. “The Pitt” brings Noah Wyle back to TV as a doctor. Seth Rogen's “The Studio” offers a comedic take on Hollywood. Netflix's “Adolescence” and “The Beast in Me” deliver gripping drama. “St. Denis Medical” and “The Paper” provide laughs, while “Forever” explores young love.
Oscar-winner Morricone’s lost opera debuts in Naples after 30 years
NAPLES, Italy (AP) — At long last, vindication is at hand for an Oscar-winning composer who sought to prove he was as capable of breathing life into Italy’s grand theaters as into gritty Hollywood films. On Friday night, Naples’ Teatro San Carlo will stage Ennio Morricone’s only opera, Partenope, three decades after its composition. It is based on the legend of a mythical siren who drowned herself after failing to enchant Ulysses, her body washing ashore and becoming a settlement that grew over millennia into the seaside city of Naples. To Morricone's great chagrin, Partenope gathered dust for decades, and he died without seeing it performed. Naples has been celebrating its 2,500th anniversary this year, and Morricone’s opera marks the culmination of festivities.
Oscar-nominated documentary 'Black Box Diaries' has delayed premiere in Japan after legal issues
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese journalist Shiori Ito's documentary, “Black Box Diaries,” has finally premiered in Japan after facing legal hurdles. The film, which investigates her own sexual assault case, has been screened abroad since its 2024 debut and earned an Oscar nomination. In Japan, sexual assault victims often face stigma and silence. The film's release was delayed due to a legal dispute over consent for interviews and footage. Ito expressed relief at sharing her story domestically. She hopes the film will encourage others to speak out. The documentary is based on her 2017 book, “Black Box.”
How the Mariachi Rams band turned the NFL game day into a personal Los Angeles soundtrack
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Mariachi Rams are reshaping NFL game day by blending traditional Mexican music with Los Angeles’ hip-hop and rock influences. Crystal Hernández, the only woman in the NFL’s first official mariachi band, is the daughter of José Hernández, the Grammy-nominated artist who founded the ensemble in 2019. The 10-person ensemble plays classic mariachi and reimagined pop and hip-hop anthems. Members balance careers in education, banking and more during the week. Their presence has become integral to the Rams’ game-day rhythm, reflecting the city’s culture and expanding the NFL's cultural connections.
AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tramell Tillman, the 'Severance' star who is very much connecting
NEW YORK (AP) — Tramell Tillman has had a remarkable 2025, becoming a force in the entertainment world and winning a spot as one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025. Known for his role in “Severance,” Tillman made Emmy history as the first Black man to win for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. He also starred alongside Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” Tillman, originally aspiring to be a storm chaser, has embraced his newfound fame. He admires versatile performers like Hugh Jackman and Donald Glover and aims to expand his storytelling. Tillman will appear in upcoming films, continuing his impressive journey in acting.
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